Angry about the rent increase on Lehrter Straße: Ekaterina G. (43), Anke S. (53), Andrea M. (62) and Selma M. (40, from left) Photo: Ralf Gunther
By Konstantin Marrach
The shock message came in the mail four weeks ago. In several houses in Moabit (Lehrter Strasse, Wilsnacker Strasse, Alt-Moabit), rents are to rise by 15 percent (!) as of November 1st.
The landlord is GSE gGmbH, which manages the state trust assets. Means: In the end, Berlin increases the rent!
“Such an increase in these times is extremely insensitive,” says Frank Bertermann (60), advisor to the Greens parliamentary group for urban development, to the BZ “Berlin wants municipal housing associations not to increase rents, but forgets the trustees they have commissioned.”
The tenants are angry. One of those affected is accountant Andrea M. (62). “The basic rent for my apartment on Lehrter Strasse is to rise from 447 euros to 514 euros – 67 euros more,” she scolds. “In addition, there are 300 euros in additional costs, which will probably also increase sharply. We are all worried that we will no longer be able to cope with this in view of inflation and the energy crisis.”
The tenant initiative has now sent a fire letter (the BZ is available) to the House of Representatives and asks for the rent increase to be withdrawn. The responsible GSE could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.